No. 2 Villanova 64, No. 1 Kansas 59 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight (South Region) March 26, 2016 - Louisville, Ky.
Villanova Postgame Notes
Team Notes: Villanova advanced to its third Final Four in school history and the first since 2009. Villanova is the first BIG EAST team in its current conference configuration to make the Final Four since Louisville and Syracuse in 2013. Villanova improved to 2-1 in Elite Eight games under head coach Jay Wright, 3-4 in games all-time. Villanova moved to 3-3 all-time versus Kansas and 1-1 in the NCAA Tournament. Villanova has led at the half in all four of its NCAA Tournament games. The Wildcats held the Jayhawks to 25 points in the first half, the second-lowest halftime total for the Jayhawks all season. Villanova’s 25-16 lead in the first half was the largest deficit Kansas had faced in the last nine games since they trailed Oklahoma State by nine on Feb. 15. Villanova is 8-3 in games which it has been out-rebounded after losing the rebounding battle 32-28 to the Jayhawks. The Wildcats had four players score in double digits for the 23rd time this season. Villanova was 4-for-18 from behind the arc, its fewest 3-pointers in a win since it had four against St. John’s on Feb. 13. Villanova is 16-0 when holding foes below 60 points this season. The 59 points were the fewest the Jayhawks scored all season. The previous low was 63 against West Virginia on Feb. 12. Villanova had nine turnovers against Kansas, its 12th game this season with 10 or fewer and the Wildcats are 11-1 in those games. The Wildcats hit 18-of-19 shots (94.7 percent) from the free throw line, their seventh game this season shooting 90 percent or higher.
Player Notes: Villanova had Josh Hart, Daniel Ochefu, Ryan Arcidiacono, and Kris Jenkins named to the NCAA South Regional All-Tournament Team, with Jenkins being voted the most outstanding player. Senior Ryan Arcidiacono appeared in his 142nd career game for the Wildcats, the most all-time in Villanova history. Arcidiacono has scored in double-figures in all four games during the NCAA Tournament after putting up 13 points against Kansas. Kris Jenkins scored 13 points in the win, his 13th consecutive game scoring in double figures. Josh Hart scored 13 points against the Jayhawks. He has scored in double figures in 35 of Villanova’s 38 games this season. Daniel Ochefu scored 10 points in the win, his 16th game this season scoring in double- figures. Mikal Bridges tallied a career-high five steals off the bench in the win. It is the most steals by a Wildcat this postseason. No. 2 Villanova 64, No. 1 Kansas 59 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight (South Region) March 26, 2016 – Louisville, Ky.
Kansas Postgame Notes
Team Notes:
With the 64-59 loss to Villanova, it snapped a 17-game winning streak that was the longest active nationally. The 17-game winning streak was the longest of the season and the longest since 2010-11, when Kansas opened the season 18-0. Kansas is now 14-7 in Elite Eight games. With the loss, the series with Villanova is tied 3-3. The Jayhawks’ loss to Villanova dropped Kansas to 100-44 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Kansas scored 25 points in the first half, the lowest the Jayhawks scored in the first half since they scored 21 against Baylor in the Big 12 semifinals. Kansas shot 46 percent from the field compared to Villanova’s 40 percent. Kansas fell to 31-1 when they have a higher field goal percentage than their opponent. Kansas had a +4 rebounding margin (32-28) and are 26-2 in games when it outrebounds their opponent. The 59 points scored by Kansas was the lowest output by the Jayhawks this season since they scored 63 in a loss to West Virginia on Jan. 12. The Jayhawks held Villanova to 64 points and suffered their first loss when holding opponents to under 69 points (13-1). The Jayhawks had zero points from their bench.
Player Notes:
Devonte Graham led all scorers with 11 first-half points and finished with 17 points, marking the 25th time he has scored in double digits this season. Perry Ellis scored four points, marking only the third time he has scored less than 10 points in a game. Perry Ellis scored a season low four points and the fewest since he scored four in the 76- 69 victory over West Virginia on March 3, 2015. Landen Lucas led all players with 12 rebounds, marking the third-straight game he had double-digit rebounds and ninth time this season. Frank Mason III scored 16 points, marking the 31st time scoring 10+ points in a game. Wayne Selden Jr. scored 16 points, marking the sixth straight game with double-digit points.